Botanical Latin Translations

a project of
V. F. Thomas Co. - P. O. Box 84 - Hulls Cove, Maine  04644
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(updated 6 January 2025)





Cyperus iria L.

Taxonomic history:
   1753: Linnaeus described this species as Cyperus iria in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 45.
   today: The current name for this species is Cyperus iria L.


original Latin diagnosis
Cyperus culmo triquetro seminudo, umbella foliosa decomposita, spiculis alternis[,] granis distinctis.

English translation
Cyperus with the culm three-angled [and] somewhat naked; with an umbel leafy [and] separated into pieces, [and] with grains distinct.



English translation with commentary
Cyperus Cyperus
with the culm culmo - ablative singular of second declension masculine noun culmus, -i
three-angled triquetro - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective triquetrus, -a, -um; modifies culmo
[and] [added for smoother reading]
somewhat naked; seminudo - ablative singular masculine of group A adjective seminudus, -a, -um; modifies culmo
with an umbel umbella - ablative singular of first declension feminine noun umbella, -ae
leafy foliosa - ablative singular feminine of group A adjective foliosus, -a, -um; modifies umbella
[and] [added for smoother reading]
separated into pieces; decomposita - ablative singular feminine of perfect passive participle of third conjugation verb decompono, decomponere, decomposui, decompositum; modifies umbella
[and] [added for smoother reading]
with grains granis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun granum, -i
distinct. distinctis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective distinctus, -a, -um; modifies granis


For a list of botanical Latin translations, please click here.         To access the Species Plantarum concordance, please click here.